Migrant target 'achievable' - PM

Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted that his promise to get immigration below 100,000 a year is still "achievable", despite predictions that figures due tomorrow will show 30,000 have come from Romania and Bulgaria alone since the start of the year.

Commons Home Affairs Committee chairman Keith Vaz cited the forecast figure as he pressed the PM to admit that - with net migration soaring to 212,000 last year - he was "not going to meet that target" by the time of the general election in May 2015.

But Mr Cameron insisted: "The target remains. I think it is absolutely achievable". Appearing before the House of Commons Liaison Committee, he declined to discuss the figures for Romanians and Bulgarians before their publication, but said that his administration had brought net migration down by one-fifth since coming to office.

The PM also resisted pressure to end the inclusion of foreign students in the net migration statistics, which has helped hold the figure down but has been blamed by critics for cutting the overseas income of UK colleges.

Mr Cameron insisted that the fall in overall numbers of foreign students was driven by action to shut down hundreds of "bogus" colleges, and cited statistics showing that numbers of genuine overseas students at British universities had risen from 142,000 to 162,000 since 2010.

He said that the UK was making an "incredible offer" to would-be students from overseas, by saying that there would be no limit on the numbers who can study at a British university, provided they have an English-language qualification and an offer of a place. He called on universities to "get out around the world and market this".

Mr Cameron said: "What we have managed to achieve is exactly what we wanted to achieve, which is the numbers of university students going up, the number of bogus colleges eradicated and the numbers overall coming down.

"I actually believe we have completely got the right policy."

Mr Cameron insisted that controversial powers to strip terror suspects of their British citizenship were necessary as he was told that the move put the UK in a group with countries including Zimbabwe and Russia.

He said there was a "very serious problem" posed by people travelling from the UK to Syria who risked being radicalised.

Hywel Francis, chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said: "We will be in strange territory where we would be having powers with a small group of countries like Zimbabwe and Burma and Russia and Serbia which exercise such powers."

He asked if the threat of being stripped of British citizenship will be used to threaten "every naturalised citizen who goes to Syria".

Mr Cameron said: "To me, the first priority of a prime minister is to help keep the country safe, particularly from terrorists, terrorism and people who threaten our way of life.

"The fact is, deeply regrettably, there are people in our country - who might be British citizens or dual nationals - who mean to visit on us extreme harm. If taking away their citizenship and excluding them from returning to our country can help keep us safe, then we should absolutely do that and that's why this power is important."

The proposals were watered down during their passage through Parliament and the Home Secretary would not be able to use the power without ''reasonable grounds'' to believe an individual could regain citizenship elsewhere. There will also be a review after 12 months.

But Mr Cameron added: "Hundreds of our British citizens or dual nationals have travelled to Syria or attempted to travel to Syria and we need to use everything in our power to stop them from going, to stop them from being radicalised, to deal with them if they are and keep our country safe.

Comments

Are they including in their statistics the numerous people entering the country clinging to the underside of lorries?

Are they including in their statistics the numerous people entering the country clinging to the underside of lorries?Martin999

Are they including in their statistics the numerous people entering the country clinging to the underside of lorries?

Score: 4

Independentvoter
6:38pm Tue 13 May 14

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !Independentvoter

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

Score: -5

blackandamber
7:25pm Tue 13 May 14

Independentvoter wrote…

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

And why do you think British people move out of Britain?

[quote][p][bold]Independentvoter[/bold] wrote:
And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop ![/p][/quote]And why do you think British people move out of Britain?blackandamber

Independentvoter wrote…

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

And why do you think British people move out of Britain?

Score: 1

Independentvoter
8:19pm Tue 13 May 14

blackandamber wrote…

Independentvoter wrote…

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

And why do you think British people move out of Britain?

Figure it out for yourself ! Don't ask me but since you have asked me.... I shouldn't have to give you a history lesson you were taught this in school weren't you ?

Deep breath.... people have been moving around the world since time began....blah blah blah and you nor any other person or any political party will ever persuade or ever stop them - Hitler did try though. We can all choose to live and work where we want to.

Just for you....People haven't started to move abroad recently - they have been moving abroad since time began and if you want some evidence just take a look at the amphitheatre in Caerleon LOL the 2nd Legion of Augustus? Lol and they are certainly are not moving abroad for any political reason.

It's probably the choice they have in Newport ....Do I take my family for a day out down costa del lighthouse to view the mud flaps or do I.... Do you know what I can't be bothered answering any more figure it out yourself lol

[quote][p][bold]blackandamber[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Independentvoter[/bold] wrote:
And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop ![/p][/quote]And why do you think British people move out of Britain?[/p][/quote]Figure it out for yourself ! Don't ask me but since you have asked me.... I shouldn't have to give you a history lesson you were taught this in school weren't you ?
Deep breath.... people have been moving around the world since time began....blah blah blah and you nor any other person or any political party will ever persuade or ever stop them - Hitler did try though. We can all choose to live and work where we want to.
Just for you....People haven't started to move abroad recently - they have been moving abroad since time began and if you want some evidence just take a look at the amphitheatre in Caerleon LOL the 2nd Legion of Augustus? Lol and they are certainly are not moving abroad for any political reason.
It's probably the choice they have in Newport ....Do I take my family for a day out down costa del lighthouse to view the mud flaps or do I.... Do you know what I can't be bothered answering any more figure it out yourself lolIndependentvoter

blackandamber wrote…

Independentvoter wrote…

And how many of us Brits moved abroad last year duh ?????? People move full stop !

And why do you think British people move out of Britain?

Figure it out for yourself ! Don't ask me but since you have asked me.... I shouldn't have to give you a history lesson you were taught this in school weren't you ?

Deep breath.... people have been moving around the world since time began....blah blah blah and you nor any other person or any political party will ever persuade or ever stop them - Hitler did try though. We can all choose to live and work where we want to.

Just for you....People haven't started to move abroad recently - they have been moving abroad since time began and if you want some evidence just take a look at the amphitheatre in Caerleon LOL the 2nd Legion of Augustus? Lol and they are certainly are not moving abroad for any political reason.

It's probably the choice they have in Newport ....Do I take my family for a day out down costa del lighthouse to view the mud flaps or do I.... Do you know what I can't be bothered answering any more figure it out yourself lol

Score: -4

Dilligaf2010
11:39pm Tue 13 May 14

Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin
g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.

Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin
g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.Dilligaf2010

Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin
g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.

Score: 6

Independentvoter
7:27am Wed 14 May 14

Dilligaf2010 wrote…

Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin

g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.

Well done and well put - The first sensible debate on here. Your the first person I could give the time of day too - what you are saying is acceptable and I totally agree with you.

That was my point too regarding us Brits who choose to move and live in a foreign country - I travel to Spain a lot - the Spanish were saying the same about us Brits especially my friends who live there - They say us Brits don't speak Spanish and we expect them to speak and write English.

If you are lucky enough to travel to Spain just take a look at all the English, Scottish and Welsh flags flying from British Bars offering karaoke and live Sky football.

I totally agree that we should not change our laws or religion too people should respect them or move back home.

I also believe that if people want to move here or we want to move abroad then we should fund this move ourselves and not be a burden on any country by claiming benefits.

Another way to solve this funding problem would be for our country to send the bill for the receipt of benefits and health services to the immigrants country and vice versa.

Did you know that someone living in Britain could pack their bags today and move to Spain and claim housing benefit, get a crisis loan and are entitled to unemployment benefit. The difference being your council flat in Spain has marble floors, patio doors leading out to a sunny beach lol. That's why hundreds of thousands of Brits live their. Google how many Brits are on benefits abroad.

Last point - If some political parties and leaders could put their arguments across like Dilligaf2010 has done without scaremongering then we could have a sensible debate and maybe they would gain more support but until then they certainly haven't got my vote.

[quote][p][bold]Dilligaf2010[/bold] wrote:
Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin
g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.[/p][/quote]Well done and well put - The first sensible debate on here. Your the first person I could give the time of day too - what you are saying is acceptable and I totally agree with you.
That was my point too regarding us Brits who choose to move and live in a foreign country - I travel to Spain a lot - the Spanish were saying the same about us Brits especially my friends who live there - They say us Brits don't speak Spanish and we expect them to speak and write English.
If you are lucky enough to travel to Spain just take a look at all the English, Scottish and Welsh flags flying from British Bars offering karaoke and live Sky football.
I totally agree that we should not change our laws or religion too people should respect them or move back home.
I also believe that if people want to move here or we want to move abroad then we should fund this move ourselves and not be a burden on any country by claiming benefits.
Another way to solve this funding problem would be for our country to send the bill for the receipt of benefits and health services to the immigrants country and vice versa.
Did you know that someone living in Britain could pack their bags today and move to Spain and claim housing benefit, get a crisis loan and are entitled to unemployment benefit. The difference being your council flat in Spain has marble floors, patio doors leading out to a sunny beach lol. That's why hundreds of thousands of Brits live their. Google how many Brits are on benefits abroad.
Last point - If some political parties and leaders could put their arguments across like Dilligaf2010 has done without scaremongering then we could have a sensible debate and maybe they would gain more support but until then they certainly haven't got my vote.Independentvoter

Dilligaf2010 wrote…

Don't care who comes here, or where they're from........providin

g they can speak, read and write in English, they're prepared to work, and we don't have to rewrite the law, or change the way we think, or act, to make them feel comfortable.
We shouldn't have to provide translators, or documents in multiple languages for UK residents, if people are so keen to come here and live, they should accept things the way they are here, and if they're not prepared to do that, they should be shipped back to where they came from.
It's not unreasonable.

Well done and well put - The first sensible debate on here. Your the first person I could give the time of day too - what you are saying is acceptable and I totally agree with you.

That was my point too regarding us Brits who choose to move and live in a foreign country - I travel to Spain a lot - the Spanish were saying the same about us Brits especially my friends who live there - They say us Brits don't speak Spanish and we expect them to speak and write English.

If you are lucky enough to travel to Spain just take a look at all the English, Scottish and Welsh flags flying from British Bars offering karaoke and live Sky football.

I totally agree that we should not change our laws or religion too people should respect them or move back home.

I also believe that if people want to move here or we want to move abroad then we should fund this move ourselves and not be a burden on any country by claiming benefits.

Another way to solve this funding problem would be for our country to send the bill for the receipt of benefits and health services to the immigrants country and vice versa.

Did you know that someone living in Britain could pack their bags today and move to Spain and claim housing benefit, get a crisis loan and are entitled to unemployment benefit. The difference being your council flat in Spain has marble floors, patio doors leading out to a sunny beach lol. That's why hundreds of thousands of Brits live their. Google how many Brits are on benefits abroad.

Last point - If some political parties and leaders could put their arguments across like Dilligaf2010 has done without scaremongering then we could have a sensible debate and maybe they would gain more support but until then they certainly haven't got my vote.

Score: -2

RealLivin
11:47am Wed 14 May 14

Immigration is not the issue immigration control is the issue, as mentioned in posts if you cant speak the language you cant come in, this is a basic requirement and surely goes against wealth of health & safety polices when you cant read safety rules. If you dont have a job to go to then why are you coming here, if jobs are available then why are our own unemployed not doing them, either due to wages being so low its only worth it if is paid under the table, then employers need to paid real wages, if it down to lazy bums not wanting jobs then stop their benefits. immigrant benefiting our country are welcome, those with no jobs no homes, no money but still taking our benefits are not, we dont need a target we need a limit.

As an ex forces member when over seas if you did not try to speak the local lingo you got nowhere, if you tried you got all the help you needed.

Immigration is not the issue immigration control is the issue, as mentioned in posts if you cant speak the language you cant come in, this is a basic requirement and surely goes against wealth of health & safety polices when you cant read safety rules. If you dont have a job to go to then why are you coming here, if jobs are available then why are our own unemployed not doing them, either due to wages being so low its only worth it if is paid under the table, then employers need to paid real wages, if it down to lazy bums not wanting jobs then stop their benefits. immigrant benefiting our country are welcome, those with no jobs no homes, no money but still taking our benefits are not, we dont need a target we need a limit.
As an ex forces member when over seas if you did not try to speak the local lingo you got nowhere, if you tried you got all the help you needed.RealLivin

Immigration is not the issue immigration control is the issue, as mentioned in posts if you cant speak the language you cant come in, this is a basic requirement and surely goes against wealth of health & safety polices when you cant read safety rules. If you dont have a job to go to then why are you coming here, if jobs are available then why are our own unemployed not doing them, either due to wages being so low its only worth it if is paid under the table, then employers need to paid real wages, if it down to lazy bums not wanting jobs then stop their benefits. immigrant benefiting our country are welcome, those with no jobs no homes, no money but still taking our benefits are not, we dont need a target we need a limit.

As an ex forces member when over seas if you did not try to speak the local lingo you got nowhere, if you tried you got all the help you needed.

Score: -3

welshmen
6:16pm Wed 14 May 14

Mass immigration has ruined this Country, to many to quick, don't mind a trickle but a deluge no, kids can't get into schools NHS waiting times gone crazy, can't get a dentist on the NHS, accommodation hard to find, 640,000 EU Nationals claiming JSA and housing, child benefits, 11% of foreign NHS staff can't speak English costing the NHS £2850.00 for English Lessons, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are foreign, sad taking them from their own Country that need them more than this Country just because the NHS pay better money.

Our capital city, white British are the minority, immigrants still coming here at 4000 a week most can't speak English yet all want somewhere to live, Asylum seekers having to be housed fed and kept in their thousands coming from Countries on backs of lorries with other Immigrants across from France, Countries where our Armies were and are at War, Immigration is only good for the bosses, cheap Labour lowering our Rates, only good for Immigrants coming from poor or third world countries, only good for the Liberal Elite who want the British Natives to disappear as Jack Straw supported, only good for immigrants all ready here ready to vote for the parties LIB/LAB/CON/UKIP who all want more immigrants even though immigration has cost this Country since 1995 £148 Billion according to the Migration Watch Report.

Try emigrating and doing that in Pakistan, China, Japan, India, Africa, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, say to them, we are going to make your capital city white not black as now, build our churches anywhere we can, don't want to marry into your Culture just want to Colonise your Country and spread our Religion that you cant debate because you will be called a Christianophobe, cant debate the people who we bring that will be racist, can't debate trying to stop us, our supporters will call you a Nazi Fascists....

In this country the liberal elite will blame the jobless and the Pension cost, their lazy bums wont work, wont do jobs foreigners will do and all of the rest of lies,Pensioners living longer as an excuse, British JSA is less than 1% of the welfare costs, yet the unemployed are blamed for us having Millions of Immigrants coming here to do their jobs, and pay for our old age Pension, again all lies fed to the dumb Liberal Elite brain dead, this is all part of the plan for a European Super State who if your not aware have sent a thousand Soldiers to the Crimea,

The only Immigrants who should come here for free are the Gurkhas and their families along with others who have fought with us, but not their country men, fought to keep our British way of life, all the rest have to speak English have £100.00 in the bank + £10,000 for each child, not claim any Benefits for five years, have Medical Insurance for all family members and a clean bill of health, commit a serious crime and their deported after sentence along with their family back to their old Country, this Country is for the British born and bred not every body from anywhere....

Mass immigration has ruined this Country, to many to quick, don't mind a trickle but a deluge no, kids can't get into schools NHS waiting times gone crazy, can't get a dentist on the NHS, accommodation hard to find, 640,000 EU Nationals claiming JSA and housing, child benefits, 11% of foreign NHS staff can't speak English costing the NHS £2850.00 for English Lessons, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are foreign, sad taking them from their own Country that need them more than this Country just because the NHS pay better money.
Our capital city, white British are the minority, immigrants still coming here at 4000 a week most can't speak English yet all want somewhere to live, Asylum seekers having to be housed fed and kept in their thousands coming from Countries on backs of lorries with other Immigrants across from France, Countries where our Armies were and are at War, Immigration is only good for the bosses, cheap Labour lowering our Rates, only good for Immigrants coming from poor or third world countries, only good for the Liberal Elite who want the British Natives to disappear as Jack Straw supported, only good for immigrants all ready here ready to vote for the parties LIB/LAB/CON/UKIP who all want more immigrants even though immigration has cost this Country since 1995 £148 Billion according to the Migration Watch Report.
Try emigrating and doing that in Pakistan, China, Japan, India, Africa, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, say to them, we are going to make your capital city white not black as now, build our churches anywhere we can, don't want to marry into your Culture just want to Colonise your Country and spread our Religion that you cant debate because you will be called a Christianophobe, cant debate the people who we bring that will be racist, can't debate trying to stop us, our supporters will call you a Nazi Fascists....
In this country the liberal elite will blame the jobless and the Pension cost, their lazy bums wont work, wont do jobs foreigners will do and all of the rest of lies,Pensioners living longer as an excuse, British JSA is less than 1% of the welfare costs, yet the unemployed are blamed for us having Millions of Immigrants coming here to do their jobs, and pay for our old age Pension, again all lies fed to the dumb Liberal Elite brain dead, this is all part of the plan for a European Super State who if your not aware have sent a thousand Soldiers to the Crimea,
The only Immigrants who should come here for free are the Gurkhas and their families along with others who have fought with us, but not their country men, fought to keep our British way of life, all the rest have to speak English have £100.00 in the bank + £10,000 for each child, not claim any Benefits for five years, have Medical Insurance for all family members and a clean bill of health, commit a serious crime and their deported after sentence along with their family back to their old Country, this Country is for the British born and bred not every body from anywhere....welshmen

Mass immigration has ruined this Country, to many to quick, don't mind a trickle but a deluge no, kids can't get into schools NHS waiting times gone crazy, can't get a dentist on the NHS, accommodation hard to find, 640,000 EU Nationals claiming JSA and housing, child benefits, 11% of foreign NHS staff can't speak English costing the NHS £2850.00 for English Lessons, 26% of NHS Doctors and Nurses are foreign, sad taking them from their own Country that need them more than this Country just because the NHS pay better money.

Our capital city, white British are the minority, immigrants still coming here at 4000 a week most can't speak English yet all want somewhere to live, Asylum seekers having to be housed fed and kept in their thousands coming from Countries on backs of lorries with other Immigrants across from France, Countries where our Armies were and are at War, Immigration is only good for the bosses, cheap Labour lowering our Rates, only good for Immigrants coming from poor or third world countries, only good for the Liberal Elite who want the British Natives to disappear as Jack Straw supported, only good for immigrants all ready here ready to vote for the parties LIB/LAB/CON/UKIP who all want more immigrants even though immigration has cost this Country since 1995 £148 Billion according to the Migration Watch Report.

Try emigrating and doing that in Pakistan, China, Japan, India, Africa, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, say to them, we are going to make your capital city white not black as now, build our churches anywhere we can, don't want to marry into your Culture just want to Colonise your Country and spread our Religion that you cant debate because you will be called a Christianophobe, cant debate the people who we bring that will be racist, can't debate trying to stop us, our supporters will call you a Nazi Fascists....

In this country the liberal elite will blame the jobless and the Pension cost, their lazy bums wont work, wont do jobs foreigners will do and all of the rest of lies,Pensioners living longer as an excuse, British JSA is less than 1% of the welfare costs, yet the unemployed are blamed for us having Millions of Immigrants coming here to do their jobs, and pay for our old age Pension, again all lies fed to the dumb Liberal Elite brain dead, this is all part of the plan for a European Super State who if your not aware have sent a thousand Soldiers to the Crimea,

The only Immigrants who should come here for free are the Gurkhas and their families along with others who have fought with us, but not their country men, fought to keep our British way of life, all the rest have to speak English have £100.00 in the bank + £10,000 for each child, not claim any Benefits for five years, have Medical Insurance for all family members and a clean bill of health, commit a serious crime and their deported after sentence along with their family back to their old Country, this Country is for the British born and bred not every body from anywhere....

Score: 0

Dilligaf2010
8:34pm Wed 14 May 14

I was chatting to a Polish chap the other day, he's started 4 businesses since moving to the UK, puts money into the economy, employs people, and he and his wife are part of the community,and the best thing about him;- even he refuses to employ people that can't speak English. :-)

I was chatting to a Polish chap the other day, he's started 4 businesses since moving to the UK, puts money into the economy, employs people, and he and his wife are part of the community,and the best thing about him;- even he refuses to employ people that can't speak English. :-)Dilligaf2010

I was chatting to a Polish chap the other day, he's started 4 businesses since moving to the UK, puts money into the economy, employs people, and he and his wife are part of the community,and the best thing about him;- even he refuses to employ people that can't speak English. :-)

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